Cdr. "Boom" Powell has reported (via Don Baily) the passing of former RVAH-5 Skipper Barry Gastrock.
Capt. Barry Allen Gastrock, USN retired, 77, of Downingtown, passed away suddenly on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
He was the beloved husband of Margerie A. Smith, Esq., with whom he shared 20 years of marriage.
Born in Harrisburg on Oct. 26, 1936, Barry was the son of the late Paul Gastrock and Cora Joly Dorison.
In August 1954, he entered the Navy as an airman recruit, USNR-R. He remained active in the Naval Air Reserve until his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in the spring of 1957. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1961, was designated a naval aviator in November 1962, and completed three deployments to Southeast Asia flying the A-4 Skyhawk aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19).
After earning degrees of Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering (MSAE) and Aeronautical Engineer (AeE) from the Naval Post Graduate School in June 1969, he reported to RVAH-3 at Naval Air Station, Albany, Ga., for transition to the RA-5C Vigilante. He completed another Southeast Asia combat deployment with RVAH-6 aboard USS Kittyhawk (CVA-63). Following one and one-half years as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in October 1972 and then completed a two-and-one-half-year tour at the Naval Air Test Center. In October 1975, Capt. Gastrock reported to RVAH-5 as executive officer and assumed command of the squadron in January 1977. He later reported to USS Forrestal (CV-59) where he served as assistant air officer, air officer and navigator.
In July 1980, Capt. Gastrock reported as associated chairman of the Physics Department at the U.S. Naval Academy. He then reported as director, Reconnaissance and Photographic Systems Division, Naval Air Systems Command in July 1983. In June 1985 he reported as commanding officer, Naval Audiovisual Center, retiring from active duty in September 1988. Following his retirement, Capt. Gastrock pursued a number of positions in the fields of real estate appraising, banking and retail.
In addition to his wife, Margerie, Mr. Gastrock is survived by his sons, Barry A. Gastrock Jr. and his wife, Kay, of Bellevue, Neb., and Kurt C. Gastrock and his wife, Nancy, of Vienna, Va.; half brothers, Fred Gastrock and his wife, Lorraine, of West Milford, N.J., and Lee George Dorison. He had five grandchildren: Sheena Jensen (Shawn), Tanya, Jason, Erin and Abbey Gastrock.
An evening visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown.
A morning visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 107 S. 17th Ave., Coatesville, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m.
Interment will take place at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., on Friday, Aug. 29. To attend, contact the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project by visiting www.woundedwarriorproject.org or .
To send online condolences, visit www.jamesterryfuneralhome.com.
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